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The Band Handbook
2012-2013
WELCOME TO THE E/H BAND FAMILY
This handbook is designed to answer some of the many
questions you will have about your upcoming band
experience and explain some of the basics about the goals
of music education. It will be as brief as possible;
however, there is a lot of important information to cover so
thank you in advance for the time spent reading and
discussing it. Please sign and send back the Return Sheet
to Mr. Quick acknowledging that you have read and
discussed the contents of this handbook with your young
musician.
Thank You,
Mr. Quick
SECTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Performance
Concert Participation
Practice
Grading
Concert Dress
Equipment
Contact information
Video Release
Calendar of Events
Return Sheet
1. PERFORMANCE
Music classes are unique courses; they have curricular
requirements, just as any other academic discipline, but
also have out-of-class time requirements (co-curricular).
The E/H music program consolidates these requirements
into one, ensemble based, academic course of study. The
level of achievement reached by the ensemble is a
reflection of the commitment of each individual in the
program.
Band is a group learning activity. Rehearsals are the means
by which students learn, and by their very nature, cannot be
reproduced or made up. Therefore, it is imperative that
students be present in rehearsal.
Performances are viewed as major tests: a performance is a
learning experience that cannot be duplicated in a rehearsal
hall or practice room; the level of concentration required in
a public performance assists each student in developing an
insight into his/her own ability to focus in a high
stress/performance environment. A student’s performance
is an important evaluative tool, allowing comparison of a
student’s performance in relation to classroom objectives
and with past performances.
Finally, the band as an organization provides a medium
through which students’ progress academically, musically,
and socially. Musicianship, a positive and helpful attitude,
participation, honorable conduct, and a desire for
excellence are expected from each member of the E/H
Junior High Band. Individual practice and preparation are
essential in order to be successful.
No other discipline in education requires the high level
of achievement from all participants as does musical
performance. Through the level of commitment
required we hope to better prepare our students for the
responsibilities encountered throughout their lives.
2. CONCERT PARTICIPATION
Every individual in an instrumental ensemble is important
to the group. An absence within a section interferes with
balance, dynamics, and causes numerous other problems
that negatively affect performance situations. In our
ensembles, others depend on the individual to carry the part
he/she has mastered in practice. When one musician
misses a session everyone associated with the organization
suffers, not just the person who has missed. A missed
event affects the entire organization and a good
performance is dependent upon the participation of the
entire group.
A public performance by the band is part of the regular
schoolwork as are vocabulary tests in English class. Keep
in mind that when a student is missing from a vocabulary
test, he/she can make it up. How can a student make up a
performance that is missed? Experiences in performances
cannot be duplicated and affect everyone in the group
therefore participation in all major concerts is required as
part of the students overall class grade.
Music classes are not a required subject; therefore,
when a student chooses to accept all the advantages of a
music class, he/she also chooses to accept the
responsibility of bringing about the success of the
ensemble.
3. PRACTICE
We come to rehearsals not to learn our own parts, but
rather to learn everybody else’s
-Eugene Corporon, Director of Bands, University of North Texas
All instruments require fine muscle control over hundreds
of muscles just to produce a basic sound. Musicians must
train those muscles the same way an athlete who wants to
perform well does. This requires routine practice of
specific exercises over a period of days/weeks/months to
develop the muscle memory and strength required to
perform more advanced techniques. As the muscles are
developing the performer will be able to play more difficult
music with ease and the student will then develop the fine
motor control of the fast twitch muscles that allow for the
great subtleties of the music to come through.
Practicing benefits the player only if it is done correctly
and on a regular basis. While the mind may understand
a particular concept, the body may not be able to
produce the desired result without the practice to build
it into muscle memory. Practicing for shorter amounts of
time on a daily basis is more beneficial to the body than
practicing for longer periods less often. To draw upon the
academic parallel, it is analogous to cramming the night
before a test. While it may help for the test the next
morning, retention is limited, and the amount of
information retained is less than if one reviewed their notes
as the term progressed.
In order to make the most use of practice time one must
have a goal in mind. This goal should be simple and direct,
such as learning the rhythm of a particular section or
learning the notes in a difficult passage. The goal should
be something obtainable in the amount of time allocated for
practicing; setting unrealistic goals can hinder the practice
session. Further, only work on one or two problems per
practice session, the more elements you add to the practice
session the less attention each element will get, it is better
to spend time focusing on one problem and fixing it than
making marginal progress on many problems.
A 20 minute practice session might look like this:
Warm-up (appropriate technique exercises)
5 mins.
Main focus of practice session (goal)
10 mins.
Warm-down (appropriate technique exercises) 5 mins.
Play though something on your own for fun ? mins.
20 Minutes of practice a day, 6 days a week is the basic
amount of practice time that musicians who are successful
at this level put in.
Extras (Rehearsals are not practice):
Groups that the student participates in outside of school are
an excellent addition to the musical experience, however; a
rehearsal, regardless of the group, is not the same as
practice and does not train the body in the same manner as
appropriate technique exercises do.
4. GRADING
A student’s grade in band is based on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Daily Participation ……………………………..……….40%
Concert Participation …...………………………………20%
Tests and Homework....…………………...…………….25%
Concert reports ………………………………………….15%
Total
100%
Daily Participation
Since band is an ensemble in which many people
contribute, it is essential that everyone is prepared and in
attendance every day.
The warm-up routine is designed specifically to address the
technical playing needs of each instrumentalist on a daily
basis. If a student is not participating they are not
developing the tools they need to be successful and are
potentially distracting someone else from being successful
in the process. There are 20 points possible each day.
Some guidelines for participation points:
Tardy (not set up and ready to play at the bell)
-10
Playing out of turn
-5 (each offense)
General Disruption (talking, making noise…)
-5 (each offense)
Missing music, instrument, reed or sticks
-15
(Does not apply to instruments that are in the repair shop)
Concert Participation
There will be a sign-in sheet for all concerts. Students must
sign-in before and after the concert in order to get credit for
their concert participation. Concert Participation points
will be deducted for inappropriate behavior and/or attire.
Tests
Tests are designed to facilitate understanding and mastery
of necessary basic techniques and musical concept
development. There will be set testing days at the end of
each quarter for scales and technique exercises, however, a
student who feels they have mastered this information
earlier may (and should) come and perform the material at
any time during the quarter.
If the student is absent during a playing test, and that
absence was excused, then the student can make up the test.
Grading will be the same criteria and at a time convenient
for the director. It is the student’s responsibility to
arrange a time to make up the test before the end of the
quarter.
Homework
Homework for this class is practicing and should be set up
in the students daily schedule as Math, English,
Science…are. There will also be the occasional hand out,
music theory or history assignment that will need to be
returned and will be counted as a homework grade.
It is expected that the students will practice on a daily basis
on general technique exercises that are appropriate for their
instrument as well as their music. It will be apparent in
class if the student has not been maintaining the necessary
level of practice and it will have an affect on their
participation and test grades as well as impacting the
student’s enjoyment of the time spent in band.
“Playing isn’t fun, playing well is fun” anonymous 5th grader
Playing Test Rubric
Score
Dynamics
4
No use of
dynamics.
Articulation/
Accents
Overall
incorrect use of
articulation, no
accents were
played
Rhythmic
Accuracy
Is not
rhythmically
accurate.
Tone
Tone is flat and
unsupported
Pitch/ note
accuracy
Consistently
inaccurate
pitch/note
accuracy.
6
Attempted to
play dynamics.
Very little
contrast
between
dynamic
sections
Articulation
developing,
accents were
played but not
noticeable.
Some rhythmic
problems, for
example
rushing or
dragging in
spots, note
begins or ends
on wrong beats,
etc.
Tone is
inconsistent,
but developing.
Pitch/note
accuracy is
developing.
Some wrong
and out of tune
notes.
8
Good contrast
between
dynamics. No
implied stylistic
dynamics
employed
10
Excellent use of
dynamics.
Good use of
implied
dynamics as
characterized
by style
Good
Crisp, clean
articulations,
articulations,
notes tongued
sounds very
or slurred as
natural and not
written.
forced. Good
Accents played attention to
with confidence detail.
Generally good Exceptional
rhythmic
sense of time.
interpretation.
Every note is
Notes begin
placed exactly
and end at right in the right
times.
place for the
right length of
time.
Tone is round,
full, and
supported.
Pitch/note
accuracy
generally OK.
Few missed
notes, no
largely out of
tune notes.
Tone is
exceptionally
round, full, and
supported,
above what is
expected at
musician's age
level.
Pitch/note
accuracy
excellent. No
missed notes,
no out of tune
notes.
Concert Report
It is particularly important for musicians to hear live music
by groups playing similar styles of the music that we study.
We are lucky to live in an area where we have the
opportunity to listen to this wide variety of music. The
Mondavi center is a world class theater which attracts
world class musicians. In addition, there are fine college
wind ensembles, jazz bands, and orchestras at UC Davis
and Sacramento State. Don’t forget our great High School
bands and the other junior high schools as well. Live music
is all around us, and we must listen to the art we ourselves
are trying to create.
Four concert reports will be required throughout the year.
There is one due by the last day of each quarter. The
concert report form can be found on the band website and
on the wall in front of the music office. The first quarter
and third quarter reports can be any live musical
performance the student/parents deem worthy. The second
and fourth quarter reports must be a concert band/wind
ensemble of some sort (HS band, a community band, other
junior high band…) in a formal concert setting (i.e. a
concert hall, not a stadium).
The Concert Report should be signed by a parent/guardian
confirming that the student did attend the performance.
5. CONCERT DRESS
Formal concerts require formal dress. The dress code for
our formal performances is:
Men; Black dress shoes (not vans/sneakers), No white
socks, Black slacks (no jeans), white button down long
sleeve shirt. If you are going to wear a t-shirt underneath
your formal shirt, please make sure it has no logos or
designs that show through.
Women; same as the men or; Black dress (no strapless or
spaghetti straps), Black Skirt/White Blouse. Skirts and
dress length must be below the knee when sitting (you
will be sitting on an elevated stage, above the audience)
and all blouses must have some sleeve. Footwear must be
appropriate to the outfit.
As concerts approach it gets very busy, please prepare now so
you have time to find everything you need.
Informal concerts will use the band tee shirt. The
standard school dress code applies with the exception that
flip-flops are not allowed for safety reasons (lots of cables,
chairs, stands…to trip on).
Students who do not meet these requirements may be asked
to change or leave the performance. If you have any
questions about these requirements please contact Mr.
Quick in advance of the performance, most years there is
some sort of clothing exchange as students of this age grow
our of formal clothing quickly.
6. EQUIPMENT
SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS:
School instruments will be checked out during the first two
weeks of school. Students are expected to bring their home
instruments until the school instruments have been checked
out as we will be playing the first day of class. Students in
need of a school instrument will bring home a loan contract
that will need to be returned before the instrument is used.
Every student who uses a school instrument whether at
home or at school will be responsible for that instrument
while it is in his or her possession.
In order to keep the instruments working correctly it is
important that all school reed instruments (except bassoon
and oboe) have the same model mouthpieces. These
mouthpieces will be provided by the school and will be
issued at the same time as the instrument.
ALL INSTRUMENTS:
Many cases look the same, please, Please, PLEASE
make sure you have a clearly written name tag on your
instrument!!!!
Students will need to provide some equipment of their own
in order to be successful and prepared for class. This can
all be acquired at any music store, on the Internet and, for
some items, through the school (just ask Mr. Quick):
Flute:
Cleaning rod and a soft cloth
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Oboe, Saxophone:
At all times have at least 4 working reeds at school; one or
two are not enough. Cork grease and a swab
Trumpet:
Valve oil, Slide grease, soft cloth, and a straight mute
French Horn/Baritone/Tuba:
Slide grease, valve oil, and a soft cloth (even students who
use a school instrument will need to provide their own oil)
Trombone:
Slide-O-Mix (no oil is to be used on school instrument
slides), water spray bottle, and a soft cloth.
Percussion: (one pair of each)
Sticks, medium yarn mallets (for vibes and marimba),
general timpani mallets, hard rubber mallets (for bells,
marimba and xylophone), hard plastic mallets (for bells and
xylophone), a stick bag (with a name tag) to carry all sticks
is recommended.
All wind instruments need a yearly tune up. Think of the
tune-up for your instrument as you would for your vehicle.
It may continue to work alright if you skip it but when it
eventually breaks down it could cost considerably more for
the repair than the continued maintenance costs would have
been to have kept it running. Woodwind instruments
develop leaks and go out of adjustment. Brass instruments
need to be professionally cleaned, dings removed, and
sometimes need corks/felts replacing.
There is nothing more defeating for a student than
doing everything correctly and still not being able to
play because of faulty or ill maintained equipment.
7. CONTACT INFORMATION
Mr. Quick
Emerson/Holmes Junior High
(530) 757-5454 ex. 160
[email protected]
I attempt to return calls and e-mails the same day if I receive them
before 12:00 and the next day if it is after that. Please be patient,
especially at the beginning and end of the year as it sometimes
takes longer.
As soon as our new lines of communication are established, I will
send home an announcement with the students and on all available
media, this will include a new web site and possibly a different
listserv or group of some sort to. For Facebook members please
“Like” our E/H junior high band page and feel free to friend me at
Mstr Quick.
8. Video Release
Much of the music we play has been used on film and television.
Throughout the year, video and audio recordings may be used to
demonstrate the goals of our rehearsals/performances. Only
specific excerpts that demonstrate our material will be used; not
whole films/shows. It is all pre-screened to meet the standards set
by the school as appropriate material. As our music changes every
year, it is difficult to list exactly what will be used; however, some
examples of years past include:
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”
Ken Burn’s “Jazz”
Bernstein’s “West Side Story”
Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King”
Disney’s “Cars”
Spielberg/Williams “Indiana Jones”
By signing the acknowledgment page at the end of this packet you
are authorizing your student to watch/listen to musical excerpts
deemed important to the class curriculum.
9. CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2012-2013
8/15 Holmes 7th grade band orientation: 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Holmes Band Room (snack provided by
boosters from 11:45-12:05), Students will need instruments
8/16 Emerson 7th grade band orientation: 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Emerson Band Room (snack provided by
boosters from 11:45-12:05), Students will need instruments
8/28 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
10/3 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
10/11 Holmes School Assembly Concert: (during school day), Holmes Gym
10/? TBD Emerson School Assembly Concert: (during school day), Ourdoor stage?
11/7 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
12/5 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
12/6 E/H Jazz Band Concert: 4:00-5:00 pm rehearsal 6:30 pm call 7:00 pm concert, IPAB
12/13 E/H Concert Bands Winter Concert: 4:00-4:45 pm, 7th grade band rehearsal; 4:45-5:30pm 8/9th
grade band rehearsal, 6:30pm call 7:00 pm concert, IPAB
1/9 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
1/18-1/20 North Bay Honor Band
2/6 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
2/6 Emerson 7th Grade Band/Elementary Concert: 6:30 pm call, 7:00 pm concert, IPAB
2/12 Holmes 7th Grade Band/Elementary Concert: 6:30 pm call, 7:00 pm concert, IPAB
3/6 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
3/9 E/H Jazz Band Coconut Grove: Time TBA, Emerson Indoor Commons
3/23 E/H Concert Bands, Spring Music Festival: Time TBA, IPAB
3/28 E/H Concert Bands Festival Concert: 4:00-4:45 pm, 7th grade band rehearsal; 4:45-5:30pm 8/9th
grade band rehearsal, 6:30pm call 7:00 pm concert, IPAB
4/10 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
5/8 Band Booster Meeting: 7:00-8:00 pm, High School Music Room
5/29 E/H Concert and Jazz Bands (with the HS Bands): Picnic and Pops, 5:30 pm call 6:00 pm
performance, Central Park
10. RETURN SHEET
We (Parent/Guardian and Musician) have read and
discussed the information and concert dates in the
band handbook.
We understand that music is a performance based
academic class and requires out-of-school activities
as part of the class grade.
Please fill in and Return:
Parent/Guardian Name (print): _______________
Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________
Student Name (print): ______________________
Student Signature: _________________________
Date: ____________________________________